Awesome Gem

2003, Awesome Again - Piano, by Pentelicus

Breeder: Runnymede Farm, Clay Catesby, and Peter Callahan (Ky.)

Owner: West Point Thoroughbreds, Patrice Arudel, Paul Blavin, et al

Trainer: Craig Dollase

Regular Rider: David Flores

Pedigree

Awesome Gem
Awesome Again
Piano
Deputy Minister
Primal Force
Pentelicus
Thwack
Vice Regent
Mint Copy
Blushing Groom (FR)
Prime Prospect
Fappiano
Charedi
Fight Over
Royal Ties

Purchase Info

Purchased by West Point Thoroughbreds for $150,000 at the 2005 Barretts Equine Limited March sale of select two-year-olds in training.

Pedigree Highlights

Click on the highlighted sire name to go to the Thoroughbred Times Stallion Directory page for Awesome Again.

Race Record

AgeStarts1st2nd3rdEarnings 
36230$98,960
49241$1,032,400
52001$30,000

At 3: 2– Sir Beaufort S. (G3)

At 4: 1– San Fernando Breeders' Cup S. (G2), 2– Pacific Classic S. (G1), Goodwood S. (G1), San Diego H. (G2), 3– Breeders' Cup Classic Powered by Dodge (G1)

At 5: 3– San Antonio H. (G2)

Last Start

Second in Goodwood H. (G1) on Sept. 29 at Oak Tree at Santa Anita

Contender Status

Awesome Gem, winner of this year's San Fernando Breeders' Cup Stakes (G2) over the dirt track at Santa Anita Park, seemed equally at home on Del Mar's new all-weather Polytrack surface, finishing second in both the San Diego Handicap (G2) on July 21 and the Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) on August 19.

The Pacific Classic is a difficult race to draw any conclusions from, given the dawdling time of 2:07.29 for the 1 1/4-mile distance, but the fact that Awesome Gem rallied from near the back of the 12-horse field to finish second to Student Council speaks well of his effort.

"I had the best trip I could have had," jockey David Flores said after the Pacific Classic. "And I thought I was going to catch him [Student Council] at the end. But he [Student Council] shifted out a little bit and I had to go out, too. But he ran great."

Trainer Craig Dollase had to be pleased with Awesome Gem's next outing over the new Cushion Track at Oak Tree at Santa Anita as he and winner Tiago staged a thrilling duel to the wire only to just miss by the slimmest of noses in the Goodwood Handicap (G1).

"He ran his eyeballs out," jockey David Flores said after the Goodwood. "I had my eye on Tiago when he broke, and I just wanted to stay with him. I didn't want him to go too easy in front of me. I just wanted to stay in his lap and then attack him when it was time. So when I attacked him at the three-eighths pole, he pushed me out because he's such a big horse. I tried to keep him in, but he just pushed me out like nothing. My horse is certainly not as big, but he was aggressive. He was fighting. He fought back. It was a great race. We just had bad luck in the last jump. I suppose we might have won had we not gotten pushed out, but that was just part of a very good race between two very good horses."

The two will get a rematch in the Breeders' Cup Classic Powered by Dodge (G1) on October 27 at Monmouth Park, a race that Dollase has been pointing for.

Recent Works

October 20 - Six furlongs handily in 1:12.80 at Hollywood Park, all-weather track fast. Best of eight workouts at the distance.

"My horse came out of his work great and we're very happy with where we are," trainer Craig Dollase said.

October 14 - Five furlongs handily in 1:00.00 at Hollywood Park, all-weather track fast. Third best of 66 workouts at the distance.